You know this [[AlwaysFemale lady]]. She's portly or HollywoodPudgy, [[PerpetualSmiler perpetually smiling]] and always ready to do what you need her to do--she's always there should you need someone to take out the trash, [[TextileWorkIsFeminine do the laundry]], or just simply be a shoulder to cry on. She'll always have [[FeminineWomenCanCook a nice breakfast]] for you ready in the morning, and will take your coat for you once you come back home. She's the [[TitleDrop Kindly Housekeeper]].

Such ladies can be a ParentalSubstitute to the children (if there are any) to substitute for the DisappearedDad (if the housekeeper happens to be a guy) or the MissingMom--usually the latter since housekeepers are [[AlwaysFemale traditionally women]] and it's usually TheJeeves who would act as a fatherly figure to the potential children. She will also often play TeamMom to the other servants (assuming she's not the only servant employed). Can be a SupremeChef considering that [[ThinkNothingOfIt it's all part of the job]], or an ApronMatron. In the latter case she may also be a ServileSnarker to verbally whip others.

Probably not an OldRetainer, since she usually doesn't have a high regard for doing things the [[GoodOldWays Proper Way]].

Contrast CreepyHousekeeper. Compare {{Mammy}}.----!!Examples:

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[[folder: Film ]]* Mrs. Potts in ''Disney/BeautyAndTheBeast''.* CompositeCharacter Nanny (a stand-in for the novel '''Literature/TheHundredAndOneDalmatians''' Nanny Cook and Nanny Butler) in Disney's ''Disney/OneHundredAndOneDalmatians''.* The recent movie adaptation of ''Film/JaneEyre'' portrays Mrs. Fairfax this way.* ''Film/MaryPoppins'' had one.* Chessy in ''Film/TheParentTrap'' (newer version with Lindsay Lohan).* Annie in ''Film/ItsAWonderfulLife''. Sure, she snarks, especially with the younger Baileys, but it's clearly based on affection (which is equally clearly reciprocated).* Mrs. Higgins, from ''Film/TheMiracleWoman'', is the epitome of this trope: kind and willing to help John Carson in any endeavor. [[/folder]]

[[folder: Literature ]]* Mrs. [=McGregor=] from ''Literature/TheBoxcarChildren'': She works for Henry, Jessie, Violet and Benny's paternal grandfather, James Henry Alden, as a [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Housekeeper_(domestic_worker)#Today.27s_cook-housekeeper housekeeper/cook]], but they see her more as a member of the family than a servant.* Subverted in Creator/SusanCooper's ''Literature/TheDarkIsRising series'' book ''Literature/OverSeaUnderStone'' (1965). Mrs. Palk appears to be one of these, but turns out to be TheMole, an agent of the Dark who sabotages the protagonists.* Nanny Cook and Nanny Butler in ''Literature/TheHundredAndOneDalmatians''.* Calpurnia from ''Literature/ToKillAMockingbird''.* ''NancyDrew'': Hannah Gruen, the live-in housekeeper/cook to the Drew family. She's been working for the family for years, and took it upon herself to act as a maternal figure to Nancy after her mother died (age-10 in the original series but age-3 in the revised series). Nancy and her father, Carson, see Hannah more of as a member of the family than a servant. * Jack from ''Literature/AlexRider''. Although she's younger than most of the examples, she still serves as a ParentalSubstitute for Alex.* Ida Jungmann in Thomas Mann's ''Literature/{{Buddenbrooks}}''.* Peggotty from ''Literature/DavidCopperfield''.* Mrs. Hudson in the ''Literature/SherlockHolmes'' canon fits this trope. She was actually Holmes' landlady, and didn't really clean up after him too often, but she did prepare his meals and admit clients in to see him. She even assisted directly in one of his cases, for which he complimented her as being "indispensable."* "Brownie" (Mrs. Brown, first name unknown) from Mary Grant Bruce's series of books (the "[[Literature/ALittleBushMaid Billabong Books]]") about the fictional Australian cattle station (ranch, in Americanese) named Billabong. After David Linton's wife died, Mrs. Brown, their cook/housekeeper took on the role of surrogate mother to his two very young children with the approval of her employer. She is depicted as kindly but firm, able to induce obedience through sheer love.* In the ''Literature/VillageTales'' series, the Duke of Taunton's housekeepers (especially at his primary seat, Wolfdown House), are these to a woman; and not a patch on his retired staff member, Rose James, who is now the housekeeper at the Rectory (the Rector is embarrassed to have one; the Duke insists; Rose James simply leaps at the chance to ''mother'' the Rector).* Mrs. Bird from PaddingtonBear.[[/folder]]

[[folder: Live Action TV ]]* Mrs. Bridges is the Kindly Queen of Kitchen in ''Series/UpstairsDownstairs''. She does have something of a temper, but is a caring motherly figure to the servant folks.* Alice from ''Series/TheBradyBunch'' is portrayed this way.* In the ''Series/DoctorWho'' serial ''Ghost Light'', the kindly housekeeper leaves at sunset, and once she and the day staff have left the CreepyHousekeeper appears. Guess when the TARDIS arrives.* Mrs. Garrett, Edna, and Pearl from ''Series/DiffrentStrokes''.* Carla, the Drapers' black "girl" on ''Series/MadMen'', who is widely criticized for being confined to this trope and SatelliteCharacter status in a show that has plenty of time to examine the problems of comparatively much more privileged (read: white) people in TheSixties. The only time she broke out of the role at all was during the scene when she was [[PutOnABus being fired]]. It's worse with Betty's childhood nanny/maid Viola, who is downright Mammy-like.* Mrs Elsie Hughes of ''Series/DowntonAbbey''.* As noted in the Literature section, Mrs. Hudson. The Granada television adaptation of the ''Series/SherlockHolmes'' canon puts her even more squarely into this trope than the novels themselves, as it illustrates the mother-son type of attachment she shares with her eccentric boarder. This is most clearly seen in the episode in which Holmes returns after being believed dead for three years - he ''hugs'' her.** The [[Series/{{Sherlock}} BBC adaptation]] puts her in the same position, with John and Sherlock both very protective of their landlady ([[CatchPhrase not their housekeeper]]). For the offence of laying hands on Mrs Hudson, Sherlock throws a CIA agent out of a window, and at the end of series 2 [[spoiler:Moriarty correctly identifies her as one of the three true friends in his life]].* ''Series/StarTrekDeepSpaceNine'' has Mila, Tain's gentle and kind housekeeper of thirty years.[[/folder]]

[[folder: Newspaper Comics]]* The title character in the comic strip ''Hazel'', as well as the Shirley Booth sitcom adapted from it, is tough-talking but sweet.[[/folder]]

[[folder: Video Games]]* The player character's mother in ''VideoGame/PokemonBlackAndWhite''. Her reaction to the player character and Bianca trashing the bedroom having Pokemon battles indoors? A cheery "No problem, I'll clean it up. You kids run along now!"[[/folder]]

[[folder: Western Animation ]]* Mrs. Beakly from ''WesternAnimation/DuckTales''.* ''WesternAnimation/TheJetsons'' have Rosie as their kindly housekeeper.[[/folder]]----